Apparatus for measuring viscosities and density of fluids

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the viscosities and the density of fluids comprises: (1) a first hydraulic bridge (I) having two diametrically opposed elements (2,3) through which fluid undergoes laminar flow and two diametrically opposed elements (4,5) through which fluid undergoes turbulent flow and means (6) connected to a junction (6) between one laminar element (2) and one turbulent element (5) and a junction (d) between the other turbulent element (4) and the other laminar element (13) capable of detecting the equilibrium of the bridge, (2) a first pump (1) controlled by the detecting means (b) and connected to the supply of fluid from which the fluid is fed into the first bridge (I), (3) a second hydraulic bridge (II) through which the fluid from the first bridge (I) can flow, said second bridge having four identical elements (9,10,11,12) through which the fluid from the first bridge (I) flows turbulently and a constant flow volumetric pump (13) connected to a point (B) between one pair of adjacent elements (9,12) and a point (D) between the other pair of adjacent elements (10,11), (4) means (8) for measuring the pressure drop across the first hydraulic bridge (I) and (5) means (14) for measuring the pressure drop across the second bridge (II).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring the viscosities and the density of fluids which comprises: (1) a first hydraulic bridge having two diametrically opposed elements through which fluid undergoes laminar flow and two diametrically opposed elements through which fluid undergoes turbulent flow and means capable of detecting the equilibrium of the bridge, said means being connected to a junction between one laminar element and one turbulent element and a junction between the other turbulent element and the other laminar element,   (2) flow regulating means comprising a first pump connected to a supply of fluid from which the fluid is fed into the first bridge, said flow regulating means being controlled by said means capable of detecting equilibrium of the bridge so as to maintain this equilibrium by varying the fluid flow entering the first hydraulic bridge,   (3) a second hydraulic bridge through which the fluid from the first bridge can flow, said second bridge having four identical elements through which the fluid from the first bridge flows turbulently and a constant flow volumetric pump connected to a point between one pair of adjacent elements and a point between the other pair of adjacent elements,   (4) means for measuring the pressure drop across the first hydraulic bridge, and   (5) means for measuring the pressure drop across the second bridge.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a constant flow volumetric pump from which a part of the flow is diverted by means of a valve controlled by the first hydraulic bridge equilibrium detector means so as to govern the fluid flow entering the first bridge and maintain the equilibrium of the bridge. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a pump controlled by said means capable of detecting equilibrium of the first hydraulic bridge. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes: (6) an electronic or electric device comprising multipliers and dividers designed for calculating values of viscosities and density and   (7) means for displaying or recording these values.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a constant flow volumetric pump from which a part of the flow is diverted by means of a valve controlled by the first hydraulic bridge equilibrium detector means so as to govern the fluid flow entering the first bridge and maintain the equilibrium of the bridge. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a pump controlled by said means capable of detecting equilibrium of the first hydraulic bridge.